If you have some basic DIY skills, you may wish to install your own data cabling in your home. Running the cable through your home and securing it is relatively straightforward. However, by following the tips below, you can ensure that your DIY data cabling job is a success.
Keep an eye on your cable management
When laying several cables within your home, it can be easy for them to become tangled and mixed up. If this occurs, it can make it very difficult to trace a particular cable back if you are trying to find a fault. You can better manage the cables by using cable ties and server racks to support the cables at the point at which they meet. Doing so will also help to support the weight of the cables, reducing the risk of them becoming worn and damaged as gravity stretches them.
Do not cut away the cable sheathing
When you are connecting the data cables in your home, you will need to gain access to the metal wire by peeling back some of the plastic sheathings. When you do this, you should use the string which is inside the cable to lift and separate the sheathing rather than using a knife to cut it back. If you use a knife, you increase the chance that you will damage the cable and cause connectivity problems. If you notice that any sections of data cable have been damaged, you should not use them.
Consider magnetic and electrical noise
Magnetic and electrical noise is a type of disturbance generated by any electrical device which is switched on and in operation. You cannot see or hear this type of noise, but it can have a big impact on a cables ability to transmit data. When you are planning the layout of the data cables in your home, you should take special care to avoid areas which contain large electrical appliances, electrical generators or fluorescent lighting. Doing so will help to reduce the level of magnetic and electrical interference and will improve your internet speeds and the quality of your phone line.
If you are not 100% confident about buying data cables, planning the layout and installing the wires in your home, you should contact your local electrical service. An electrical contractor will be happy to visit your home to offer further help and assistance with every aspect of your data cabling installation.
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